Name: Harare
Address: Zimbabwe

How it opened

I stand on a plateau where the air grows thin and cool, watching over a nation's heartbeat.

The five clues

01Where the highlands whisper subtropical secrets at 1,483 metres above the world below.
02I am nestled in the Mashonaland region of north-eastern Zimbabwe, a metropolitan hub.
03Founded in 1890, I have grown to anchor an entire province of connected cities and municipalities.
04With nearly 1.85 million residents within my proper bounds and over 2.4 million in my greater metropolitan area, I am my nation's largest and most vital city.
05I am the capital of Zimbabwe, incorporating the municipalities of Chitungwiza, Epworth, and Ruwa.

The answer

Harare

Zimbabwe · Africa

About this place

Perched on a high plateau in north-eastern Zimbabwe, this city has grown from its 1890 founding into a sprawling metropolis commanding over 2.4 million people across its metropolitan province. The cooler subtropical highland climate at its 1,483-metre elevation creates a unique African landscape where modern urban life meets geographic grandeur. As the capital and largest city of Zimbabwe, it serves as the political and economic heart of the nation, anchoring the Mashonaland region with municipalities like Chitungwiza, Epworth, and Ruwa.

Geography

Harare lies in the north-eastern part of Zimbabwe, within the Mashonaland region. The city rests on a plateau roughly 1,483 metres above sea level, which gives it a subtropical highland climate rather than the hot lowland conditions found elsewhere in the country. This elevated setting shapes much of daily life and keeps temperatures milder than one might expect for its latitude.

History

The settlement that became Harare was founded in 1890, marking the beginning of its growth into a major urban centre. Over time it expanded well beyond its original boundaries, eventually becoming the administrative and economic heart of Zimbabwe. Its development into the country's largest city reflects the gradual consolidation of surrounding communities into one metropolitan area.

Notable features

As the capital and largest city of Zimbabwe, Harare anchors the wider Harare Metropolitan Province, which also includes the municipalities of Chitungwiza, Epworth and Ruwa. The city proper covers an area of 982.3 square kilometres and recorded a population of 1,849,600 in the 2022 census, while the broader metropolitan area is estimated to hold around 2,487,209 residents, underscoring its regional importance.

Fact sheet

Country: Zimbabwe
Continent: Africa
Coordinates: -17.829, 31.052
Population: 2,150,000
Founded: 1890

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